3 males and 3 females must be present on the court at all times; in cases of injury, teams may play with fewer than 6 if they have no other rostered players. Then the ‘ghost rule’ will be applied.
- This has been modified compared to original to allow fewer than 5, so that teams always have a fighting chance if their players get injured.
Males/females must be alternating in rotation, and prior to serving
Males can only attack the ball from behind the 3-meter attack line. At take-off, his feet must neither have touched, nor crossed over the attack line. After his hit, he may land on or in front of the attack line. However, he may complete an attack hit in front of the attack line if at the moment of contact any part of the ball is below the top of the net.
- Because this comes up often, dumps are attacks. Standing dumps are still attacks if the ball is fully above the height of the net and directed down.
- You are also not allowed hit overpasses. You are however allowed to block them, and break your wrists. But when doing this, be careful to use two hands, otherwise there is a high chance that your block will actually be an attack.
If a male puts the ball over the net while jumping in front of the attack line, that is considered an attack (blocking not included).
- This includes sets.
Side-by-side blocking (attempted or completed) by 2 males is only allowed against a male attacker, otherwise a participating female blocker must be present between 2 male blockers for the block to be legal. 2 males blocking a female side-by-side is not allowed; if two males jump together but one pulls his hands down, that is still considered a double male block
Breaking wrists with blocking is allowed; males blocking with one hand may not break wrists
When your team is serving, no screening with hands above head. Hands are still allowed to be beside or on your head head (this is also a new Volleyball Canada rule from this year)